He can engineer legendary comebacks in back to back years against one team, then single-handedly cost Michigan against that team the next time out. That's what happened Saturday, when his five turnovers were the biggest reason Michigan lost 13-6 against Notre Dame.

And now, some fans are calling for his benching. Just like that.

The school's all-time leader in offense. A third-year starter. A captain.

Some want him out. Or at least, out at quarterback.

I wrote about Robinson's troubles for a story Sunday, and my inbox was besieged with hate mail. And the funniest thing happened: It came from both sides.

One reader: "As much as I love college football, it is a game! Denard has brought a smile to my husband's face so many times. He has never enjoyed watching the offense as much as he has these few years. I am sorry that you feel his words are tiresome."

Another: "A real unfortunate article on Denard. I am a lifelong Wolverine fan, and I am disappointed when we lose, but I also love to see a young man grow. Denard may not win a Heisman nor will he lead the team to a championship, but he grew as a man yesterday and that is more important than W's and L's."

People love Denard. But they hate him too.

Another reader: "Why oh why is he never benched? So frustrating to watch him implode more times than not. I was hoping Hoke might take the road that Notre Dame did and switch quarterbacks. I have been a Wolverine fan since I was 9 years old and there has never been a quarterback I dislike as much as him."

Another: "Time for Denard to move to the slot receiver and start grooming a new QB."

My response: And put who in? Russell Bellomy, the guy who has two career passes -- and one is a pick? Devin Gardner, the guy who now plays receiver -- and is the team's best receiver?

Jack Kennedy?

Michigan has no better choice than Robinson. And even if it had one, it wouldn't go to him anyway.

Nor should it.

Robinson is flawed, as has been evidenced by his struggles in the passing game. He's shown glimpses of working out his issues, only to revert to form. And with only eight games left in his career, plus the postseason, it's possible he'll never figure it out.

But he's still a dynamic quarterback who fulfills the two basic functions of the position: Move the offense and score points.

Michigan averaged 33.1 points per game in 2010 and 2011, Robinson's first two full seasons as starter. That's the best two-year stretch at the school since Elvis Grbac averaged 35.5 points per game in 1991 and 1992.

Robinson does it unconventionally. He'll drop jaws one play, and scratch heads the next.

But Michigan is wed to him at quarterback, for better or worse. Most days, it'll be the former. Other days, the latter.

Get used to it, because he's not going anywhere. Nor should he.

It's a no-brainer.

Some other thoughts from Saturday's game against Notre Dame:

Borges under fire
There's been a lot of discussion about coordinator Al Borges' playcalling against the Irish, and he's taken the most heat for a halfback pass he called in the first quarter.

Michigan had put together an efficient 11-play, 78-yard drive, and Robinson was clicking in both the running and passing games. But when the Wolverines got to Notre Dame's 10-yard line, Borges dialed up a halfback pass for Vincent Smith. Drew Dileo was open in the end zone, but Smith threw offbalance and was picked off.

So was this a case of Borges getting too cute? Or was it a good call that simply didn't work out?

My take: It's hard to like that play.

Robinson is such a rhythmic player. When he's going, he's really going -- and when he's not, he's not. And on this drive, he was five-of-six passing and had a 15-yard run on the play before the pick.

He was feelin' it, Michigan was feelin' it .. and that play sort of took the wind out of its sails. U-M didn't have another 10-play drive until the third quarter.

The counterpoint is to say if it would have worked, we'd all be calling Borges a genius. Michigan ran something similar against Minnesota last year, and he was exalted because it scored a touchdown.

But playing on the road, against a rival, and the offense is moving the ball ... why introduce more risk than is necessary? Sure, the play might have worked out -- but the odds it wouldn't were greater on that play than a traditional play.

Overall, Borges is receiving too much criticism for his playcalling. Michigan, after all, did move the ball. It outgained the Irish on the ground and through the air, and had more first downs.

Robinson's picks prevented Michigan from punching in on those opportunities. And that's more on Robinson than Borges.

Devin Funchess' role growing
It appears Michigan is finding new ways to incorporate true freshman tight end Devin Funchess into the offense, as he lined up several times at receiver against Notre Dame. Sometimes he motioned there, other times he straight-up played receiver.

This likely is a way for Michigan to get the budding pass-catcher in the game more frequently. He still is too small and too raw to be a consistent blocker, so he often rotates out when bigger bodies are needed.

By lining up Funchess at receiver, he can stay involved in the game without too much being asked of him in the blocking game.

He finished with two catches for 11 yards against Notre Dame, his worst output since playing sparsely in the opener. But expect more from him soon.

Dennis Norfleet really is fearless
Dennis Norfleet's first kick return against Notre Dame featured him plowing right into the teeth of the Irish's kick coverage -- and the true freshman pushed the pile an extra 5 yards to the 33.

Later, he returned a kick into the middle again -- this time jumping high into the air to sky over defenders. It takes a brave soul to leave his feet on that play.

It's easy to like not only what Norfleet can do on returns, but what he's willing to do. He's nasty. And effective.

Norfleet is averaging 24.1 yards per kick return, third in the Big Ten. Michigan ranks second as a team, after finishing 117th nationally last year.

Norfleet was the last player to commit to Michigan's 2012 class, and now he's had one of the biggest early impacts. He has a bright future here.

Raymon Taylor a mixed bag
It appears Raymon Taylor has wrestled the corner job away from Courtney Avery, after starting opposite J.T. Floyd each of the past two weeks.

That move paid immediate dividends against Notre Dame, as Taylor intercepted Irish quarterback Everett Golson on the first defensive play of the game. It was Michigan's first pick of the year.

He also showed his inexperience, though, as he got beat on a few throws. That included a pass interference call on a 24-yard pass that set up Notre Dame's only touchdown.

Taylor didn't even look back for the pass, which he's done several times the past couple weeks.

The sophomore has great athleticism, but needs to hone his coverage skills to become more consistent. And Michigan will need him, with Blake Countess out for the season.

Rookie shows youth
Brady Hoke has shown the past two years that he's not afraid to play freshmen, and he's playing several right now on defense. Many have performed well.

But they make mistakes too.

One example is Jarrod Wilson, a reserve safety who committed a foolish pass-interference penalty on a third-and-goal play at the goal line. The pass fell incomplete, but Notre Dame got an extra set of downs.

It took only one play for the Irish to score their only touchdown.

There are a lot of freshmen who are proving their mettle, and Wilson is among them. Michigan has lots of young talent.

But young talent sometimes makes mistakes, and Wilson's was costly.

Front seven shows up
The play of the defensive line was one of the more surprising developments in this game -- in a good way.

The front had its most impressive performance of the year. It got pressure, closed up gaps and even finished off a few tackles. Will Campbell and Quinton Washington combined for seven themselves, their best showing against a non-triple option offense.

Their play helped free up the linebackers, who also had an impressive day. Desmond Morgan had his finest game of the year, finishing with a team-high seven tackles. Jake Ryan was disruptive, and even middle linebacker Kenny Demens -- who is losing time to freshman Joe Bolden -- made some nifty plays.

Notre Dame averaged just 3.0 yards per carry, and finished with 94 on the ground.

It was a great day for the defense, which kept Michigan in the game and held Notre Dame to 13 points despite six turnovers by the offense.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for MLive.com. He can be reached by email at kmeinke@mlive.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.